The Truckee river is flowing at 250 cfs through the downtown gauge that is well below the median for this time of year (400 cfs). The river is in really good shape as the weather has kept the river temperatures above freezing at night and ending the day in the low 40’s. The trout have responded to the increased temperatures and they are feeding heavily and are putting on weight. Midge, baetis, and Skwala stoneflies are the main feed right now. We are fishing mostly subsurface as we have not had a lot of the cloud cover that brings the blue winged olives to the surface. One the warmer afternoons we have found surface feeding fish along foam lines and tucked up into quieter eddies. Fortunately, nymphing and streamer fishing has been very effective.

As always with winter fishing using attractor patterns like worms and eggs can be very effective as well. The trout are still holding in slower water, but on these warmer days they have pushed into faster water then you may be expecting. I really like to focus on seams and if you can find an eddy or slow pool with flow alongside it you’ve hit the jackpot. 

Truckee River Flies We Suggest: Baetis Cripple, Pull Over BWO, French Nymph, Parachute Adams, Black BH Zebra Midge 18-20, Olive Psycho May, Ready Baetis, Drunk and Disorderly, Truckee River Dozen